A decades-old bus network that millions of Disneyland visitors count on is heading for its final stop, and the city next door is sliding into the driver’s seat. The Anaheim Transportation Network’s ART buses are scheduled to shut down on March 31, 2026, leaving hotels and theme park guests to piece together other ways to get around. Garden Grove, sensing trouble on the horizon, has announced a paid shuttle for 10 local hotels that it says will start running in the last week of March.
ATN board votes to wind down operations
The ATN board voted in late January to begin an “orderly wind-down,” setting March 31, 2026, as the last day of service, according to the agency’s announcement on its website. Agency documents show the board also signed off on short-term budget moves and legal paperwork tied to closing the system, according to Anaheim Transportation Network.
Garden Grove will run shuttles for 10 hotels
The City of Garden Grove and the Garden Grove Tourism Improvement District have rolled out a paid shuttle plan aimed at keeping hotel guests linked to the Disneyland Resort, with service slated to begin the last week of March, according to the City of Garden Grove. The program will run three frequent routes between participating Garden Grove hotels and the Disneyland transit hub, and the city says the service will be funded through assessments on those hotels.
Participating properties include Sheraton Garden Grove - Anaheim South, Hyatt Regency Orange County, Embassy Suites by Hilton Anaheim South, Delta Hotels by Marriott Anaheim Garden Grove, Anaheim Marriott Suites, Hilton Garden Inn Anaheim/Garden Grove, Homewood Suites by Hilton Anaheim-Main Gate Area, Residence Inn Anaheim Resort Area/Garden Grove, Great Wolf Lodge Southern California and Hampton Inn & Suites Anaheim/Garden Grove. Schedules will be posted by the hotels.
Money and ridership behind the move
ATN said it had “exhausted all options” before opting to wind down operations, pointing to ongoing budget gaps and rising labor costs in its public statement. The board packet shows ATN requested a short-term $2.5 million allocation from the Anaheim Tourism Improvement District and approved loan and deed-of-trust documents to keep buses running during the wind-down, according to Anaheim Transportation Network. Industry reporting puts the system’s ridership at about 8.2 million in 2024, highlighting how many visitors and workers will have to find other ways to get to the resort area, according to Mass Transit.
Disneyland and hoteliers scramble for options
Disneyland told reporters it is “aware of the situation” and is looking at next steps to keep guests moving, while Anaheim officials say the parks, hotels, and the city are working together to limit the fallout, SFGATE reported. Local hotel managers said they are drawing up private shuttle plans, and some expect alternatives to be ready by the time ART stops rolling. City officials also pointed out that Orange County Transit Authority routes still serve the park area and are among the near-term backup options for guests.
What visitors should expect
For now, travelers should be prepared for a patchwork of hotel shuttles, rideshare trips, and existing OCTA routes. Garden Grove says schedules and fares for its program will be published by participating hotels. Guests with upcoming reservations are being urged to check their hotel’s website or front desk for shuttle details and to budget extra time during peak hours. For more background on the shutdown and the local response, see coverage from The Sacramento Bee.
